How to buy a refrigerator...by John and Michele Rietz

Our shiny, brand new refrigerator

To say that we have a hard time making decisions and actually following through is a HUGE understatement!  So, for us to actually have a new refrigerator purchased, brought home and installed in our kitchen, well, that is news-worthy if anything ever was.

Our old refrigerator is original with our house (1992) and although it still kept our food cold, it was only a matter of time before we would have been shopping around for a new one.  It was already a little moody, and more than once froze our poor lettuce and a few other unsuspecting vegetables.  So, we decided to be proactive and buy a new one before we were desperate and HAD to buy something on a moment's notice (see above:)

Follow these steps for a fool-proof way to select the perfect refrigerator for your home.

1- Measure your space and determine it is not tall enough for one of the new full size French Door models.
2 - Become discouraged and stop even thinking about it. (Do steps 1 & 2 several years ahead of time)
3 - See a counter depth fridge at a friend's home and open the conversation again.
4 - Stop in at an appliance store and see how much more money a counter depth fridge is, for less capacity.
Repeat step 2, but only sit on it for about a week.
5 - Stop at the appliance section of Home Depot and re-visit the issue.  Realize that you actually have the height necessary.  Do a little happy dance!
6 - Look at several fridges at different appliance stores and find one you really like.  Check the reviews on-line to find out how many people regret buying it.  Stop dancing.
7 - Invoke the powers of the Refrigerator Fairy to just drop the perfect one in your kitchen.
Repeat steps 6 and 7 several times.
8 - Finally find two models that are the right size, have the right features and are even on sale.  Decide to go ahead and give in on the Stainless Steel fight because you really like the 2-drawer freezer idea.
9 - Measure the space you have to get the appliance through to get into the kitchen.  Realize you would have to take it up and over the bar!  (Remember the first part of Step 2? and Step 7?)
10 - Look at the options you have left.
11 - Realize there is also a potential problem with the cupboard next to the refrigerator.  Do a little measuring and confirm those suspicions.  (By now you are automatically reverting to Steps 2 and 7.  No conscious effort is necessary.)
12 - Go look one more time at what seems to be your one and only option.  Confirm that it is, bite the bullet, and hand over your credit card.
12A - DO NOT LOOK AT ANY REVIEWS!
13 - Wait to receive the call that it is in at the store, ask a friend for help to pick it up (with his pick up) and get it into your kitchen ASAP.
14 - Share your "fool-proof" method so others can benefit from your experience.

You are welcome.

And if any of you remember this post from a while ago, you'll notice the front of my new fridge is pretty empty.  I am making a conscious effort to NOT put stuff on it for now.  Just to see if I like it better.  We'll see...